Total pages in book: 182
Estimated words: 171176 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 856(@200wpm)___ 685(@250wpm)___ 571(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 171176 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 856(@200wpm)___ 685(@250wpm)___ 571(@300wpm)
She issued a soft growl at that last bit, obviously annoyed with me, but all I could feel was Weston up there, waiting. Hoping. He wanted this; I knew he did. I wanted this. So did my wolf. My past was terrible, and I didn’t have a very good pedigree, but neither did the queen of the kingdom. She came from a tiny village, she hadn’t had a penny, and she’d probably had to learn to eat soup, too. I wasn’t alone in this, and more, I had something to bring to the table. While my wolf learned, I could prove our value in other ways.
“We can do this,” I said, feeling better. “This is right. Being with him, starting this new life, finally shrugging off the chains that bound us to Granny . . . We can do this. Crawl out of this hole.”
She didn’t budge for a moment. “But now they’ll think we’re cowards for running.”
“Get out of this fucking hole!” I shouted at her.
She went slower than she probably could have, but finally my wolf made it to the top. Weston’s wolf waited there, lifting his head off his paws when she showed herself. He whined softly and licked her muzzle. Support and encouragement radiated through the bond. His gray gaze met hers, and then he started backing out, the thorns digging into his sides. She followed, smaller and not as troubled by the passage.
Outside of the thick brush no one waited for us; anyone that had followed had been “told” to head out. Weston shifted back into his human form and waited for me to do the same.
“Are you okay?” he asked, his tone hushed and his movements slow. He didn’t make a move toward me.
“Yes. Sorry, I had a mild freakout when Hadriel mentioned what we were on the way to get ready for.”
He nodded slowly. “I’m sorry. I found out this morning after you’d left. I should’ve made sure someone sent word to you. What can I do to help?”
“It’s fine. I’m good.”
“Aurelia.” His tone brooked no argument. “What’s going on?”
I sighed and then just let it all flow out—my concerns, my wolf’s. We walked through the brush, finding a game trail and then following that for a spell. One of the towns, probably the one we’d run through, appeared up ahead, and he veered, intentionally avoiding it.
“I would’ve had all these worries parceled away if I’d known what the plan was,” I said. “I just got a scare, is all.”
He took my hand and threaded his fingers through mine. “I didn’t know why the king was stalling. He didn’t mention it was Hannon, probably because he didn’t want to say where Hannon had gone. Did they tell you?”
“Yes. He was in the work shed today.”
“Good. You’re not alone in your anxiety, Aurelia. I doubt myself as well. It’s natural. I worry that I won’t be a good mate to you. That I won’t be a good father. But then I see your beautiful face, or smell your mouth-watering scent, and I know none of those worries matter. Regardless of what could go wrong, I’d be lost without you. I never really cared about being solitary—it’s the nature of the job—until you. Now, if I’m without you too long, it’s overwhelming. I have to ask you to brave my inadequacies because, even though you don’t know the proper decorum regarding eating soup, I need you. My life is pale without you.”
I stopped him and turned, pulling him into a hug. “And mine without you. But who mentioned the soup?”
He laughed and kissed me on the forehead. “Finley. She had a similar experience. I think you two will end up good friends.” He kissed me lightly on the lips. “As for your wolf,” he said as we started walking again, “there is nothing to worry about. This is just an introduction. I will claim you, and then we will shift so that your wolf can formally enter the pack bond. Only that. If the need takes them, the pack might have a run, but only if it feels right.”
“What if she is heavy-handed with the bond? She worries about that.”
“I don’t think that will happen, but it’ll be fine. My wolf can help her back out, and we can try it again another time. Listen, this first time will not be kingdom-wide. We’re going to start with the palace army and guard. They all know you’re a new, powerful wolf. Dante and the others have done the rounds, making sure everyone is clear on what to expect. We won’t have any dragons except the king and queen and Vemar, and the king knows not to challenge. Everyone knows not to challenge, actually. This is only the formality of my mate joining the pack, nothing more.”
“What’s expected of me?” I asked.